Gravity conveyer



Jan. 15 1924.`

' w; R. BAN KsoN GRAVIITY coNvEYER Filed March 29. 1923 latented .liant lSz E92@ WILLIAM( R. BANKSON, Oli? ROSS TVJNSEE GRAVITY lpldltlld L?, ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA..

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Application nl: -March 29, i923. Serial No. 628513.

T 0 all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that l, VViLLrAir R. BANnsoN, a citizen of the United States,- residing in Ross Township, in the county of Allegheny` and State of Pennsylvania, have i vented a new and useful Gravity Conveyer, of which the following is a specification.

This invention appertains to conveyers and the primary object ofthe invention is to provide a novel means for transporting articles from one place to another in an eX- peditious manner with a minimum amount of expense.

A still further object ofthe invention is to provide a conveyer of the gravity type in which the carrierris adapted to move down an inclined way, the device being so constructed as toy permitthe same to be used for various purposes, either for light or heavy work.

A. further prime object of the invention is to provide a gravity conveyer embodying a suspended track on which is mounted for movement thereover a wheeled carri r, and novel means for `changing the inclination of the track, whereby the wheeled carrier car-L be made to move from one end of the track tol the other at the will of the operator.

A further object of the invention is. provision of. novel suspending means for the track and novel means` for changing` the inclination of the track, said suspending means being so constructed as toeffectively support the track irrespective of the inclination thereof.

A still further objectV of the invention is the . to provide an improved gravity con'veyer of the above charactenY which will be durable and efficient in use, one that will be simple and easy to manufacture, and one which can be placed upon the market at small cost. v Y

With -these'and other 4objects in view? the invention consists in the novel construction. arrangement and formation of parts', as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed andL illustrated in the accompanyinoF drawingsyin which drawings:

c'igure l is a side elevation of the improved gravity conveyer.

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section through the same7 illustrating the `means of associating the wheeled carrier with the trackl` and Figure 3 is a longitudinal section through the track showing` the means for holding the car against movement, and

Figure l is a vertical transverse section through the complete apparatus illustrating the means for suspending the track.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding partsl throughout the several views, the letter A generally indicates the improved gravity conveyer which ,embodies a track l0 upon which is mounted for movement'thereover the carrier 1l.' The track 10 is of a novel coniguration and embodies a body portion l2 including upstanding parallel marginalanges 13 on which are adapted to travel the supporting wheels'le of the carrier ll. rDisposed at the longitudinal center of the body l2 is arranged an u'pstanding attaching flange 15 to which are pivotally connected as at 16 the supporting rods or hangers 17.

The carrier ll includes a body 20.011

which the articles to be transported are placed and this body 20 is supported by side frames 21 terminating in diverging arms 22. These diverging arms 22 carry the rollers 14;. Y

Depending brackets 25 are secured to Aa suitable support such as a ceiling or the like 26 and the lower ends of these brackets 25 have pivotally connected thereto at their angles bell cranks 2'?. The bellcranks 2T are'preferably arranged in two series one on each of the transverse center of the device and one series of the bell cranks are arranged in opposite relation to the other series, so that the short arms thereof extend in opposite directions. As clearly 4shown in Figure l ofthe drawing, the short arms ofthe bell cranks gradually increase in length toward the outermost bell cranks for a purpose which will be hereinafter more fully described.` rllhe extreme upper ends of the supporting `Vrods l are pivoted as at 28 tothe terminals ofthe short arms of the bell cranks 2'?. The long arms of the bell cranks 27 are all connected together by means of a link 29 so as to permit synchronous movement thereof. rlhe track 10 is so arranged as to swing ina vertical plane so as to change the angle thereof inl relation to the horizontal and thus it is obvious that the ends thereof will have a greater swinging `movement than the center thereof, and this is compensated by the short arms oilV the bell cranks 27 decreasing in length toward the innermost pair of bell cranks, as heretofore stated.

The terminals of the track lO are turned upwardly as at 30, so as toprevent the carrier l1 from slipping ofi the track when the same reaches the end of its traveling moveaient. It is also preferred to connect the longitudinally aligned axles ot' the Wheels l-r together by ineans of a. resilient band 18, which is adapted to engage a suitable re`- raining spring 19 secured to the body portion 12 or' the track l0. This spring 19 engages the band i8 when the carrier reaches approximately the end of its movement and thereby brings about the gradual stopping of the carrier.

In order to change the inclination of the track a hanger 3l is arranged at each end et' the row of hangers 25 and these hangers l have pivotally secured theretor at a ,point intermediate their ends the operating levers 32 and The inner ends of the levers 32 and 33 are connected by meansl of :i suitable cable or the like 34' With the terminals of thetrack 10. The levers BSVand are connected beyond their pivots by means of a control rope or cable 35, which vis trained about suitable guide pulleys 36,

connected tothe hangers 31.

Iii use of the improved device, When it is desired to move the carrier l1 from one end or' the track to the other, after the same has been loaded, it isfmerely necessary rto 1pull down on one o'l the levers Which Will raise the corresponding end of the track and lower the opposite end of the track. The changing of the inclination of the track l0 will move the supporting bell cranks 27 thereby still permitting the effective supporting of the track. The carrier 1l rWill now move down the track and thus transport the material carried thereby yfrom one end to the other. `When it is desired toreturn the carrier to its first position it is merely necessary to move down the other lever which will change the inclination of ifienive other according to the inclination of said track.

ii Gravity conveyeiI comprising a supporting track, a plurality of' depending hangers, a plurality or' oppositely disposed bell cranks pivoted at Itheir angles tothe hangers, the loweriiiost arms o'i' the bell cranks decreasing in length toward the'finnerinost hangers, means for connecting. ythe bell cranks together for synchronous movement, means connecting the lower arms or"Y the bell cranks to the track, means disposedv at each end of the track for changingthe inclination thereof, and a Wheeled carrier mounted upon the track for movement thereover.

23. A gravity conveyer comprising a track including a fiat supporting body, up'standing marginal lianges formed on the longitudinal edges oi" the body, a medial longitudiiiallyy extending flange formed onl the body, aI plurality of depending supporting hangers, bell cranks pivoted at their glcs to the lower ends of the hangers, means connecting the long arms of the bell cranks together, means connecting the short arms of the bell cranks to the medial flange, a." lever pivotally securedinterinediateits endsv at each end vof the track, means connectingl the inner end of each lever to the` adjacent end of the track, means connecting the levers together, and a Wheeled carrier including a supporting body, aframe, and Wheels carried by the frame arranged to travel upon said marginal ianges.

4. ln a gravity conveyer, a suspended track, means for changing the inclination of lthe track, a carrier mounted for movement over the track including a supporting body, side trames and rollers carried by ,the frames for engaging the track, 'aA leaf spring carried by the track, and resilient bands connected with the carrier for engaging said4 spring to hold the carrier against movement on said track. i

W. R. BANKSON. 

